Deaths in 2001

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FURTHER DETAILS OF DEATHS

Irfon Thomas

Irfon died when he was pulled into a slurry tank's fast-spinning mechanism.

The inquest took place at Carmarthenshire Coroner's Court on 21 March 2003. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned. The inquest heard that Irfon had ignored basic safety and maintenance rules.

Health and Safety inspector Michael Fenny said a protective shield which should have covered the power shaft, which rotates nine times a second, had been damaged, leaving it exposed. Nothing had been done to repair the damage and the drive shaft had not been disengaged before it was approached. The tractor had not been put into neutral or shut off either. 'Doing any of these things would have prevented the tragedy,' he said.

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David Clifford Jones

David died after falling through the roof of the bus depot. David was washing the corrugated asbestos and perspex surfaces when he fell 35ft on to a concrete floor.

David, know as Dai Sarne, suffered a cardiac arrest in the ambulance taking him to Glangwili Hospital and died the following day from a fractured skull.

The inquest was held at Carmarthenshire Coroner’s Court on 18 July 2002.

David's employer, Ffoshelig Coaches owner Phillip Evans, told the inquest jury that his four full-time drivers were required to carry out odd maintenance jobs. But he had only asked David to hose down the side of the garage.

'The building is 25 years old and its roof has never been cleaned' Mr Evans added.

'I didn't know he was going on the roof - I would have stopped him. I come from a farm and I know the perils of an asbestos roof and would never have asked him or anyone else to go on it.'

The inquest jury also heard that that David had collected a wooden ladder instead of a three-piece ladder available.

Health and Safety inspector Alan Strawbridge said the roof was of a type which was particularly dangerous. The panels might have looked safe but could suddenly disintegrate under someone's weight. At the highest level of safety precaution he would have expected a sign warning that the roof was fragile, fixed to a gable end, aimed especially at outside contractors. But few firms used them, despite the fact that 44 per cent of all industrial deaths were caused by falls, many of them involving roofs.

The coroner John Owen asked Mr Strawbridge, 'There are thousands of such roofs - should every one of them have a sign?'

Mr Strawbridge replied, 'Yes, if it is foreseeable that someone might go up on the roof. It is a request I often make. But an awful lot of places don't have such signs.'

A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.

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Frances Coles

Frances, a worker at Corus's Trostre plant in Llanelli, died while working on the plant's night shift. He worked in the 'cold reduction area' of the mill which thins down stripped steel before coating it in tin for the beverage industry.

The inquest was held at Carmarthenshire Coroner's Court on 14 and 15 March 2005.

The hearing was told that Frances died after he was hit in the neck by a heavy plate. He and eight workmates were working within the mill machinery to change the rollers which pulled the steel through the mill. The team leader Paul Harrison glanced down a corridor and saw Frances with his neck trapped beneath the plate. Mr Harrison turned the switch that raised the plate to free him and as he did so Frances slumped to the floor.

An ambulance was called and Mr Harrison tried to keep other workmates, some of whom had known Frances for nearly 15 years, from the scene while help arrived. Colleagues told him to try to talk to Frances, which he did, even though he said it was clear he was already dead.

Detective Sergeant Gary Jackson Philips, who investigated the accident, told the jury that a switch operating the metal plate was worn and 'moved more easily that it should have done.' He also said that the latch pin that would keep the plate from moving was not in place.

'Over a period of years staff had become used to the procedure. It was a short cut that was in place,' said the officer.

Carmarthenshire Coroner John Owen said, 'That would have ensured that the accident couldn't have happened.'

A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.

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Lyndon Forrest

Lyndon, a window cleaner, died while carrying out casual work in Elizabeth Street, Llanelli.

The inquest was held at Carmarthenshire Coroner's Court on 7 August 2003. A verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.

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David Thomas

David was taking animal feed up a hill at Cincoed Uchaf Farm, Cwmbach. His brother, Howard, heard a loud bang and, on investigating, found David trapped between the machine's wheel guard and the ground. He was declared dead by paramedics at the scene.

Health and Safety inspector Alan Strawbridge reported no faults with the tractor's steering and brakes. the animal feed had not been unloaded. mr Strawbridge said, 'For an unknown reason, David was returning down hill when he lost control.'

The inquest took place at Carmarthenshire Coroner's Court on 21 April 2005 when a verdict of death by natural causes was returned.

The coroner John Owen said, 'It sounds reasonable he was taken ill and that is why he didn't unload. The injuries suffered in the accident didn't kill him. He died because of what can loosely be called a heart attack.'

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Andrea Thomas

Andrea died after she became trapped under a large bale of straw while working in a hay barn on the family farm in Llandysul, Ceredigion.

It is thought two large bales fell from a stack above where she was working. Andrea was helped by members of her family and airlifted to the West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen, but was found to have died on arrival.

The inquest took place at Carmarthenshire Coroner's Court on 19 May 2005 when a verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned.

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William Healey

William died after he was crushed between his vehicle and a load of wood he was delivering to a timber yard at Ammanford, south Wales. The Health and Safety Executive and police launched a joint inquiry.

Police said he was trapped as a folk-lift truck began unloading the lorry at the Timber Frame Wales yard on Maesquarre Road.

The inquest is due to take place at Carmarthenshire Coroner's Court on a date yet to be set.

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